Topic: UPDATE! Not stripped!? Was:Crap! Threads in one of the caliper mounts on fork!

[putnaja1]

I finally rebuilt the forks on my 550.  Polished the lower fork sliders too, and the bike really looks sharp!!  The last freak'n bolt I put back in is one of the two caliper pivot/mount bolts that thread into the fork slider..  Guess what!?  It just keeps on turning- it's stripped!!

What is the right way to fix this?  Can this bolt hole be safely helicoiled (or that other thing where they thread in a collar, what's that called?)  Or, should I just start looking for a new slider?

[oldbiker]

Either helicoil or Timesert thread repair will be OK for this job.

[Tim.]

Yep - relatively easy fix.  If you don't want to do it yourself, take the fork to a shop and I'm sure it won't be too expensive (less than another fork slider and polishing work!).

Chances are it's been stripped for a long long time.

Alternatively, and others please weigh in here - could the fork legs be swapped out and the caliper be mounted facing the rear?  Then the caliper would be mounted on what is now the left fork slider which presumably has good threads.

[putnaja1]

Man, I sure am glad this forum exists- I feel a lot better knowing it can be fixed..  I was pretty bummed last night! 

I looked at the parts fiche, and the bolt that screws into this hole is listed as "6X25"..  Does this mean 6mm diameter by 25mm length?  I am trying to figure out how to identify the screw diameter/thread pitch, so I'll know what helicoil to look for..

Also, where can I get helicoil metric stuff? 

[crazypj]

Alternatively, and others please weigh in here - could the fork legs be swapped out and the caliper be mounted facing the rear?  Then the caliper would be mounted on what is now the left fork slider which presumably has good threads.

You can swap fork legs left to right but you have to modify mudguard/fork brace. Its meant to get mass of caliper closer to centre and also gives a servo effect. I think its already been discussed here?
PJ

[putnaja1]

Hey guys, get this:

I called around, and my local shop was able to squeeze me in today for helicoil install.  I take the bike apart and inspect the thread..  That's funny- they look perfect, as does the screw!  I know I had the bracket on all the way, and the screw tightened, then loosened, and repeated 3 times- I was sure it was stripped.  Looking at the screw showed a bit of aluminum on the threads.  I was sure I was in trouble.  I took the fork leg to the shop to have them look, just in case I was not seeing some obvious crazyness.

They tested the threads by using a spacer between the bolt head, and the fork leg.  Sure enough, the screw held perfect, with plenty of hold, no signs of strippage or damage!

Now I am really feeling stupid (yet happy the fork leg is still "virgin"    )

What the heck do you think happened?  I gotta wait until nighttime to install.  The shop said the threads were not tapped all the way to the bottom, and thought maybe I was missing a spacer and the bolt was trying to cut new threads towards the bottom of the hole.  Weird- the bolt is the same size as the other side, which had no problems..  I am bolting through the caliper swivel bracket, and the fender/fork brace, plus the stock lockwasher..  Any ideas???  I guess I'll use a couple of washers and space it out a bit more- there is plenty of thread still available for the fork leg..

Sheesh!!

[supersport_CB400F]

Happy day's 

[putnaja1]

Happy day's 

Yeah man- I got lucky I guess..  I was able to catch a break and re-assemble the bike early.  This time, I noticed the fender/fork brace fit better in front of the caliper mount- so I installed the two bolts -> lockwashers -> fender/fork brace -> caliper mount -> fork leg.  No extra spacers needed at all.  The fender fit better this way, and both bolts snugged up tight!  Wow!  I am ashamed to admit my attempted butchery, but since I didn't strip anything after-all, I'm thinking I get no demerits!   As silly as I feel for doing this, maybe someone searching the forum will read this later and avoid my mistake.